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Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day Manicure

Posted on July 4, 2016June 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It is Independence Day here in the United States, and I wanted to share with you the manicure I created to celebrate. I’ve always loved July 4th, and what a better way to wear the red, white, and blue than on your nails! I reached into my nail polish collection to create this really easy nail art look, which can be customized to fit your tastes and skill level. Let me share my Independence Day manicure with all of you!

What You Need // What I Used:

Red Nail Polish // KBShimmer in Chilly Papper [LINK]
Blue Nail Polish // Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant in Out of the Blue [LINK]
White Nail Polish // LVX Fantom [LINK]
Scotch Tape
Born Pretty Store Star Stamping Plate [LINK]
Stamp and Scraper Tool // Born Pretty Store Stamp Set [LINK]
Top Coat // Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [LINK]

I began my manicure by painting all of my nails red with the exception of my ring finger, which I painted blue. I made sure to let this dry completely before continuing on with the nail art look. If you are in a rush, you can simply leave your manicure like this, or add some glitter on top to dress it up a bit! A white glitter over the blue accent nail would look great.

The final step was adding on some white stars using my stamping tools. I decided to block off part of my nail using Scotch tape, and left only the middle triangle open for the stamp. Make sure to choose a really pigmented white polish so that the stars will really stand out on your nail. Feel free to stamp over the whole nail, or just a portion like I did! Follow up with a glossy top coat once the stamp is dry, and your manicure is complete!

All in all, I am loving my July 4th nail art! It was really easy to create, but looks super festive. If you don’t own a stamping plate with stars, you can substitute nail stickers or simply a glitter polish. Of course, if you’re really fancy you can freehand some stars as well. Make the look your own with whatever you have in your collection! I hope you are having a fun and safe Independence Day! Please tag me on social media so I can see your festive nails!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare | Madam Glam So Nude vs Julep Lynn

Posted on July 1, 2016May 15, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s been a little while since my last Dare to Compare post, and today I am moving onto the pink nail polishes in my collection. I began my declutter project with more pink polishes in my collection than anything else, so I’ve been really focusing on only keeping the pinks that I absolutely love. Today I’m comparing two pink nudes, one from Madam Glam and the other from Julep. While it was evident to me that these polishes are not exact duplicates, I still wanted to try them side-by-side. Let me share the results with you!

First up is So Nude from the brand Madam Glam. So Nude is a pale pink with peachy undertones, and a rich pink, silver, and gold shimmer that I just couldn’t seem to capture on camera. This polish has an okay formula, but I found it to be quite patchy upon application. So Nude’s formula has definitely changed over time, and not in a good way unfortunately. I do love the end result once I layer on three coats, as the shimmer is just gorgeous in person.

Next up is Julep Lynn, a peachy-pink polish with a metallic formula. Lynn has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but you can see a lot of brush strokes due to the metallic nature of this polish. I do like Lynn, but my nail polish tastes just don’t extend to metallics much. I loved this polish a lot when I first got it, but my tastes have changed over the years.

Here is a look at the polishes side-by-side, with Madam Glam So Nude on my pinky and ring fingers, and Julep Lynn on my middle and pointer fingers. These polishes are definitely different shades, but they are quite similar. I’ve decided to declutter both of these polishes, just because I don’t find myself wearing them in the future. I do recommend Julep Lynn, it’s just not for me!

All in all, I’m glad I tried out these polishes together even though they aren’t as similar as I originally thought based on how they look in the bottle. I don’t have the best luck with lighter pinks, especially those with peachy undertones. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite polish in this color family is! I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for a good one.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués Review | All Laced Up

Posted on June 27, 2016June 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a nail art product from the brand Nail Bliss. This is a new-to-me brand sold exclusively at Sally Beauty Stores, and I was excited to receive the Nail Pop Appliqués in the style All Laced Up to review. I love trying out nail stickers because they make nail art really quick and easy. Plus, nail appliqués typically last longer than nail polish. Nail Pop Appliqués are also super fabulous and affordable, so I knew I had to test them out so I could share my thoughts with all of you!

Here is a look at the Nail Pop packaging. These appliqués are designed with accent nails in mind, so you only receive eight full size nail stickers. However, you do get a lot of smaller accents, which can be layered or worn alone. I was surprised that this bulky box only contained the sheet of appliqués you see here, and not a nail file, which is needed to apply the stickers and is included by many competitor brands. This packaging seemed a bit unnecessary, especially since there was a cardboard piece inside to puff out the box. I would rather a more environmentally friendly design for such a small sheet of stickers!

I began my manicure with a base of Color Club’s Mod in Manhattan. I decided I wanted to replicate the manicure on the Nail Pop box as much as possible, so an off-white shade was a great choice. I made sure to let my manicure dry completely before attempting to apply the appliqués.

The Nail Pop Appliqués work just like any other nail sticker. You choose the size that fits your nail best, smooth the sticker over the nail, and file off any excess. Then, make sure to seal the manicure with a top coat.

The first thing I noticed with the appliqués is that I had trouble finding the right size for my nails. Similar nail stickers often come with more stickers than you need so that you can find the perfect size for your nails. That is certainly not the case here. Not only are there not enough appliqués for a complete manicure, but the four sizes available didn’t fit my nails well. Similarly, the appliqués were difficult to apply because they are so sticky during application that you cannot reposition them at all. If you make a mistake, you have to work around it.

That being said, I did really like the final manicure result. The All Laced Up Set has some really fun patterns, and I like being able to create a skittle manicure with little effort.

Unfortunately, my manicure did not last long. Just a few hours after my manicure was dry, I noticed the nail appliqué begin to peel off my pointer finger. You can see the edge is completely off my nail in the above photo. The next morning when I woke up (about 17 total hours later), nearly all of the appliqués were peeling at the edges. This was so disappointing! I made sure to follow the application instructions on the stickers exactly, and sealed them with top coat. I think the main reason they were peeling is because they just didn’t fit my nail shape well. I will say that the smaller accents stayed put very easily, and I had trouble removing them.

All in all, I would recommend passing on the Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués. Of course, these will work a bit differently on everyone, especially if the sizes included fit your nails better. However, I’m really disappointed my manicure didn’t even last a full day. I do think the small accents work very well, so if you are looking solely for those you might be interested in this set. You can shop the entire Nail Bliss line at your local Sally Beauty Supply store, or online HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any products from Nail Bliss. I would love to hear your experience!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water Decals

Posted on June 22, 2016May 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you a vintage floral nail art look I created using water decals from Born Pretty Store. I absolutely love water decals because they make nail art really easy no matter your level of talent. Water decals work just like temporary tattoos – you soak them in water and transfer the design onto your nails. You can cut the decals into any shape you want, but today I decided to use the decals like nail strips and create an all-over design. Let me show you the vintage floral manicure I created!

Here is a look at the water decals when they arrive. You get a full sheet and it costs only $1.42 on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE. As you can see, the design can be cut any way you choose. I decided to go with an all-over design on the nail, so I trimmed the sheet into what I estimated my nail shape to be. You can also trim the decal once it’s on your nail, so have some small nail scissors handy.

I decided to begin my manicure with two coats of Zoya Ness. I thought that would make a great base polish for the decals because it matched up with some of the colors in the decals. Make sure to let your manicure dry completely before adding the water decals. I am loving my end result! I think the design looks really cool, and I’m so happy with how it came out. I could never paint my nails with such an intricate design, so it’s awesome I can get the look with water decals. I also wanted to quickly mention that I apply a glossy top coat over the decal to ensure it stays in place. The decals wear just like normal nail polish, and remove easily with nail polish remover.

All in all, I highly recommend water decals if you are looking to create intricate nail art without a lot of effort. I’ve always enjoyed the water decals I’ve tried from Born Pretty Store in the past, and this vintage floral design is no different! As always, you can get 10% off your order with the code FZL91 at checkout. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve used water decals and how you like them!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare | Julep Evelyn vs butter LONDON Queen Vic

Posted on June 20, 2016May 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my last nail polish comparison in the purple color family. I’m surprised I don’t own more purple nail polishes, as I really love the way they look! Nonetheless, I noticed both Julep Evelyn and butter LONDON Queen Vic look very similar in the bottle. I figured I didn’t need to own both of these polishes, so I decided to swatch them to see which one I like better. Let me share the results with you!

First up is Julep Evelyn, a deep purple polish with a hint of red pigmentation. Evelyn has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It does have a thicker formula, so prepare for that by wiping most of the product off the brush before applying the polish to the nails. Evelyn looks amazing on my nails, and it is a great shade for the fall months.

Next up is butter LONDON in Queen Vic. This polish is also a deep magenta purple. Queen Vic has a good formula, but it does tend to be streaky. I needed to apply three coats to achieve opacity and get a smooth finish. I think Queen Vic’s formula changed over time, because in the past I only needed two coats. Sometimes polish formulas can definitely get wonky over time, so unfortunately I think that happened to Queen Vic.

Here is a look at the polishes side-by-side, with Julep Evelyn on my pinky and ring fingers and butter LONDON Queen Vic on my middle and pointer fingers. Evelyn is just slightly darker than Queen Vic, but this difference is very miniscule. If you own one of these polishes, there is no need to purchase the other! I’ve decided to declutter Queen Vic since I prefer Evelyn’s formula.

All in all, I am surprised to see how similar these polishes are to one another! I know Julep often gets a bad rep, but while I’ve definitely found some Julep duds, there are a lot of Julep products I really enjoy. The opposite goes for butter LONDON polishes – they are well loved, but they just don’t always work the best for me. I would love to know in the comments if there are any popular polish brands that you don’t like. It’s such an interesting conversation!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare | Milani Vivid Violet vs Milani Purple Martin

Posted on June 15, 2016May 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today’s nail polish comparison is going to be an interesting one because we are looking at two polishes from the same brand. I own two Milani polishes from past limited edition collections, and I noticed that they look quite similar in the bottle. I thought this would be a good opportunity to try them both and see if they are exact duplicates. Let me show you these polishes individually and side-by-side.

First up is Vivid Violet from the Gold Label collection released in January 2014. Vivid Violet has a great formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. I love this purple shade, because it’s somewhere between a true purple and a pastel.

Next up is Purple Martin from the Fantastical Plumage collection that was released in August 2013. Purple Martin has the same great formula of Vivid Violet, and applies smoothly in two coats. I love how this shade of purple looks with my skin tone!

Here is a look at Vivid Violet and Purple Martin side-by-side. Can you tell the difference between these polishes? I certainly cannot! These appear to be the exact same polish. In fact, I’m pretty sure Vivid Violet is just Purple Martin rebottled. I think this is very interesting, especially considering both of these are Milani polishes from limited edition collections. On the one hand, this is great that if you missed a limited edition polish, it becomes available again. However, I also feel disappointed that we don’t always get new and exciting polishes in every release.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes to find out about exact duplicates. I’m going to be keeping Purple Martin in my collection, since I really love the Fantastical Plumage collection as a whole. I definitely want to hear from you in the comments. Do you think brands should rebottle nail polishes and pass them off as different shades? I fully recognize that it’s not possible to constantly come out with unique shades, but I would like some transparency. I’m sure this is something that happens all the time, but goes unnoticed because most of us don’t own every polish from a brand. Share your thoughts with me on this topic, as I think we can have a great discussion!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Seashells Collection for Summer 2016

Posted on June 8, 2016May 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am continuing my review of the Zoya Nail Polish Summer 2016 release with a full review of the Seashells Collection. I was very surprised to see Zoya release a PixieDust Collection this summer. The PixieDust formula is Zoya’s take on textured nail polish. It applies smoothly and then dries to a textured finish, complete with stunning glitter in each polish. I could have sworn that the textured trend was over, but I was wrong! PixieDust polishes are back in action this year, and I’m excited to review them for you.

I wanted to quickly note that I applied two coats of each PixieDust polish in the photos you see here. PixieDust polishes are buildable, and are typically opaque in 2-3 coats.

First up is Levi, a yellow gold polish with holographic glitter. Levi has a great formula, and dries very quickly. I’m not one to wear gold polish regularly, but this is a great option. I also like the holographic glitter, since it adds a lot of dimension to the polish.

Next up is Linds, a red polish with red and gold glitter. Linds has a good formula, but I found the textured effect isn’t as strong with this polish. That might be a pro for you depending on how much you like the PixieDust finish. Linds is more of a fall and winter shade for me, so I find it interesting that it’s part of a summer collection!

My favorite polish in the collection is Zooey, a pink polish with gold glitter and holographic hexagons. I love the combination of the gold and pink, because it almost makes this polish appear as a rose gold. Plus, Zooey sparkles so beautifully in the sunlight, which makes it perfect as a summer staple!

Next up is Cece, a green polish with gold glitter. Cece is definitely a bit on the sheer side, as I applied two coats and it is not opaque. That being said, I’m interested to try layering Cece over another green polish to see what that looks like.

Bay is up next, and it is a blue polish with silver and gold glitter. Bay is similar to Cece, in that the formula is more on the sheer side. The pigmentation is not as strong as I would like, but if you like lighter blues this one will be right up your alley!

Last but not least is Tilly, a silver polish with purple and holographic glitter. Tilly is a really unique polish, and I know I don’t own anything else like this in my stash. I think Tilly will look beautiful with darker skin tones, but I’m not loving it with my fair complexion. I’m much more of a rose gold girl!

All in all, I think Zoya has produced a solid collection with the Seashells. I’m not a big fan of the PixieDust formula anymore, but these polishes are all amazing quality. I definitely recommend Zooey, and if you’re only looking to pick up one Seashells polish that is my pick. You can shop for these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each or $60 for the full collection.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Midnight Blue Nail Polishes

Posted on June 6, 2016May 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is going to be a big one. I own four nail polishes in my collection that are midnight blue shades, meaning they are almost black, but have a blue pigmentation. I knew I had to try them out side-by-side to see if they are exact duplicates of one another. The polishes range from the affordable price of $5 to the higher end price of $14, so I have a polish for every budget to share. Let me show you these polishes individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Color Statement in the shade Ink Spot. This is a highly pigmented polish that can be worn in just one coat. I added two coats for this blog post, just to ensure an opaque finish. Ink Spot is a great polish, and one that is super affordable. I recommend this polish if you are on a budget and looking for a solid one-coat formula.

Next up is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight. This polish has been my go to for a while when it comes to midnight blue polishes. The formula is excellent, and it is opaque in two coats. Plus, it does dry very quickly, which I really appreciate. I reach for Night Flight because it does dry so fast. This is one is also super affordable at around $5.00 at the drugstore.

The third midnight blue polish I own is Madam Glam’s Endless Night. In the bottle this looks much more blue than it is black, but once I apply two coats it takes on the same blue-black look. Endless Night also has a good formula, but it is a stainer! Make sure to wear a healthy base coat if you own this polish. Madam Glam polishes retail for around $8.00, but Endless Night is discontinued.

Last but not least is Julep Kristy. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but it does have a tendency to stain as well. I’m not sure if I’ve ever worn Kristy before, but it is a nice polish. If you’re looking for a splurge polish this might be a good one for you!

Here is a look at all four polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Ink Spot, Sally Hansen Night Flight, Madam Glam Endless Night, and Julep Kristy. As you can see, these polishes are all nearly identical. In person both Endless Night and Kristy are a touch more blue than Ink Spot and Night Flight, but honestly there is no need for me to own all four of these polishes! I’m going to keep only Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight, just because I love the quick dry formula.

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for a midnight blue polish. I think all of the polishes mentioned here are great options, but I definitely recommend Night Flight. It is available at the drugstore or online HERE for a fabulous and affordable price! Please let me know in the comments if you own any of these polishes, or if you have a favorite midnight blue. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016

Posted on June 3, 2016May 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am beyond excited to share with you a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016. Every year Zoya releases two summer collections, and this year we have the Seashells & Sunsets. I knew I had to try the Sunsets first, because I love creme nail polishes. The Sunsets contains six cremes in bright shades that are perfect for the summer months. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Cam, a bright orange polish. Cam has a good formula, but during application it was quite streaky. I applied two coats, and was very happy to see that as the polish dries is smoothes out to a flawless finish on the nail. I’m surprised with how well Cam wears with my fair skintone! It is perfect for the summertime.

Next up is Dixie, my favorite polish in the collection! Dixie is a bright pink polish with a lot of red pigmentation. The formula is great, although it does apply just a bit streaky like Cam. I’m amazed at how these polishes dry so smoothly on the nail! Dixie is made for me, and I can’t wait to wear it again!

There is also a blue-toned pink in the collection called Brynn. This polish has an excellent formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. Brynn will look good with any skintone, and is also a polish that I think can be worn during any time of year. If you only buy one polish from the Sunsets Collection, I think Brynn is a great choice because it is so wearable.

Next up is Liv, a mid-toned purple polish. Liv also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. The purple shade is quite hard to describe, because although Liv has a rich pigmentation, it is also lighter in color. Nonetheless, it is really gorgeous, and makes an excellent transitional color from summer to fall.

Another favorite of mine is Dory, a cornflower blue polish. Dory has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over how amazing this polish looks on the nails! It is super shiny without a top coat needed, and it looks really great with my fair skin. I know some people find blue nail polish intimidating, so I would give Dory a try if you are looking for a wearable shade.

Last but not least is Ness, a jade green polish with a hint of blue. Ness also has an amazing formula that applies smoothly in two coats. I think Ness is also a great place to start with green polishes if you haven’t found the right shade yet. It’s really beautiful!

All in all, I am obsessing over the Zoya Sunsets Collection! I love each and every shade, and this is a collection where I recommend buying all of the polishes. If you are new to nail polish, or if you are looking for the perfect summer brights, definitely grab the entire collection and you’ll have everything you need! I know I will be getting a lot of use out of these polishes, and I can’t wait to wear them over and over again. You can buy the Sunsets Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each or $54 for the entire collection.

Which polish in the Sunsets Collection is your favorite?! Let me know in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased collection. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare | Covergirl Sapphire Flare vs Julep Char

Posted on June 1, 2016May 4, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have another nail polish comparison to share with you, this time a good matchup between a drugstore polish and a higher end brand. I’ve been really impressed with the Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant line ever since it hit stores, so I just had to see how close in shade it is to a Julep polish I own as well. Let me share these polishes with you individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Sapphire Flare from Covergirl, a deep navy blue creme polish. Sapphire Flare is an excellent polish. It is opaque in one coat and applies smoothly to the nail. I am wearing two coats in the photos above, just because adding a second layer adds to the high-gloss finish and deepens the pigmentation just a bit. Sapphire Flare is a great navy to have in your nail polish collection.

Next up is Julep Char, another navy blue creme, but with a brighter blue shade. Char also has a really good formula that is opaque in two coats. It tends to be a bit streaky, but nothing unmanageable for sure. Char is a gorgeous polish, and a good one to get from Julep if you’re picking out a polish for your monthly Maven subscription.

Here is a look at Sapphire Flare and Char side-by-side. I’m wearing Sapphire Flare on my pinky and ring fingers and Char on my middle and pointer fingers. As you can see, the colors are very, very similar, but not exact duplicates. Sapphire Flare is almost a black, while in Char you can see the blue quite clearly. These are both great polishes, but I much prefer the shade of Sapphire Flare, and will be keeping that one in my collection.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together so I can recommend them both to you. My top choice is definitely Sapphire Flare, which can be purchased at the drugstore or on Amazon HERE for around $5.00. I’m excited to wear this navy shade when fall rolls around! Definitely let me know your favorite navy polish in the comments!

This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.